How to store sweet potatoes and how long they last
Quick answer
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Room temperature
Keeps for 2-3 weeks
Keep raw sweet potatoes in the pantry, where FoodKeeper gives them 2 to 3 weeks from the date of purchase.
Watch out Throw away any sweet potato that looks rotten.
Raw sweet potatoes last 2 to 3 weeks in the pantry, counted from the day you buy them. Cooked sweet potatoes keep 3 to 4 days in the fridge and 1 to 2 months in the freezer. FoodKeeper gives no fridge or freezer time for raw sweet potatoes. Cut away bruised or damaged spots, and throw out any that look rotten.
Buying sweet potatoes this week?
On a Listonic list, every item gets the amount you need and a note on when to use it by.
- Quantity and unit on every item
- A note like “fridge, use within a week”
- One list shared with everyone at home
Raw sweet potatoes last 2 to 3 weeks in the pantry, according to USDA FoodKeeper. Cooked sweet potatoes keep 3 to 4 days in the fridge and 1 to 2 months in the freezer.
FoodKeeper gives no fridge or freezer time for raw sweet potatoes, so this guide doesn’t give one. It does cover how to spot a bad one, how to freeze them cooked, and how to wash them.
How long are sweet potatoes good for?
Raw sweet potatoes are good for 2 to 3 weeks in the pantry, counted from the day you bought them. Cooked sweet potatoes are good for 3 to 4 days in the fridge and 1 to 2 months in the freezer.
| Sweet potatoes | Where | How long |
|---|---|---|
| Raw | Pantry | 2 to 3 weeks from the date of purchase |
| Cooked | Fridge | 3 to 4 days |
| Cooked | Freezer | 1 to 2 months |
Do sweet potatoes go bad?
Yes. Raw sweet potatoes last 2 to 3 weeks in the pantry, and cooked ones last 3 to 4 days in the fridge, so both have a limit.
How to store sweet potatoes
Store raw sweet potatoes in the pantry, where FoodKeeper gives them 2 to 3 weeks. Store cooked sweet potatoes in the fridge or the freezer.
Raw sweet potatoes
Choose sweet potatoes that aren’t bruised or damaged when you buy them. FoodKeeper lists yams and sweet potatoes together and gives them 2 to 3 weeks in the pantry from the date of purchase.
It gives no fridge time for raw sweet potatoes, so there’s no USDA number to go by there.
Cooked sweet potatoes
Cooked sweet potatoes keep 3 to 4 days in the fridge. FoodKeeper groups them with leftovers that have no meat, fish, poultry, or egg, such as cooked vegetables, rice, or potatoes.
Can you freeze sweet potatoes?
Yes, you can freeze cooked sweet potatoes for 1 to 2 months, according to USDA FoodKeeper. It gives no freezer time for raw sweet potatoes.
Cooked sweet potatoes
FoodKeeper gives leftovers without meat, fish, poultry, or egg, such as cooked vegetables and potatoes, 1 to 2 months in the freezer. Cooked sweet potatoes fall under that line.
Raw sweet potatoes
For vegetables in general, the USDA’s freezing guidance says most of those that freeze well are low acid and need brief, partial cooking before freezing, called blanching. You blanch or partially cook them in boiling water or in a microwave oven, then chill them rapidly before freezing.
How to tell if sweet potatoes are bad
A sweet potato that looks rotten is bad, and you should throw it away. That’s the FDA’s advice for all produce.
Bruised or damaged spots
Bruised or damaged areas are a different case. Cut them away before you prepare or eat the sweet potato.
Cooked sweet potatoes past their days
For cooked sweet potatoes, count the days too. FoodKeeper gives 3 to 4 days in the fridge.
How to wash sweet potatoes
Wash sweet potatoes under plain running water before you prepare them, even if you won’t eat the skin. Washing first keeps dirt and bacteria on the surface from being carried along when you peel or cut.
Scrub them with a clean produce brush, since they’re firm produce. Skip soap, detergent, and commercial produce wash, because produce is porous and can absorb them.
Dry them with a clean cloth or paper towel to further reduce bacteria. The FDA’s tips for cleaning fruits and vegetables add that washing reduces bacteria but doesn’t eliminate them.
Frequently asked questions
How long do cooked sweet potatoes last in the fridge?
Cooked sweet potatoes last 3 to 4 days in the fridge, according to USDA FoodKeeper.
How long can you keep cooked sweet potatoes in the freezer?
FoodKeeper gives cooked sweet potatoes 1 to 2 months in the freezer.
Should raw sweet potatoes go in the fridge?
FoodKeeper gives raw sweet potatoes a pantry time and no fridge time. The pantry time is 2 to 3 weeks from the date of purchase.
Can you eat a bruised sweet potato?
Cut away the bruised or damaged areas before you prepare or eat it. If the sweet potato looks rotten, throw it away.
Do you need soap to wash sweet potatoes?
No. Use plain running water and a clean produce brush, because produce is porous and can absorb soap, detergent, and produce wash.
Should you blanch sweet potatoes before freezing?
The USDA says most vegetables that freeze well need blanching first, which means partly cooking them in boiling water or a microwave oven and then chilling them rapidly. FoodKeeper gives no separate freezing advice for raw sweet potatoes.
